Damper



July 2, 1946. F, J, KURTH 2,403,291

DAMPER Filed Dec. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 2, 1946. F. J. KLJRTH2,403,291

DAMPER Filed Dec. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJuly2,1 946 UNITEDsrATs DAMPER Fran: J. Klillfli, New York, N. Y., assignor to An emostatCorporation of America, New York, lil. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication December a, 1942, Serial No. 46am 18 Claims. (01. 98-40) entamounts of air through difleren't portions of the outlet or diffusingdevice according to requirements in particular instances.

'-manner and may have any other desired shape.

of either substantially equal amounts or difler- With the foregoing andotherobjects it view, I which will become more fullyappar'ent as thenature of the invention is better understood, the

same consists in a damper embodying the novel features of construction,combination and ar-- rangement bi parts as will be hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand defined inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying draw1ngs,-wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding. parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a central, vertical section through a damper constructed inaccordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

For example, said frame may be cast and instead of having four arms andbeing in the shape of a Greek cross, it may have any other desirednumber of arms of the same or different lengths and may be of a shapedictated by the number of arms which it comprises. In any event, armconnectingportions ll of said frame preferably are spaced equaldistances from the center-of said frame to adapt said frame to fiteither into acylindrical air supply duct or, equivalently, into thecylindrical neck of an air outlet or diffusing device crosswise or atright angles'thereto and to be held therein against lateral shiftingmovement by the cooperation of said portions H with the duct or neck, asthe damper particularly is intended for use in association with airoutlet or diffusing devices of circular shape and usually such deviceshave cylindrical necks or are connected to cylindrical ducts-throughwhich air is supplied to them and in which the damper is to be located.In this connection, the frame A has been illustrated in the presentinstance as being disposed in the cylindrical neck I 2 of an air'outletor diflusingdevice B of a well known type comprising a plurality ofsuccessively smaller,.

open-ended, hollow, frustro-conical members l3 spaced successivelyinwardly of one another to Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a, fragmentary enlarged vertical section showing in detailthe means connecting together certain of the vanes of the damper forsimultaneous actuation and illustrating by. full define therebetween aplurality of flaring passageways through the supplied air flows, and asbeing secured in said neck by means of screws.

I4 extending through the portions and into and dotted lines open andclosedpositions, re-

spectively, of the vanes.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are elevations of different vanes of the damper; andv Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating an alternative formof means for simultaneously adjusting certain ofthe vanes of the damper.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that thepresent dampercomprises primarily a frame, designated generally as A,having, in the particular instance illustrated, the

said neck. However, the frame A need not include the portions II and maybe secured in a neck such as the neck i2 or, equivalently, an air 1supply duct, in any other appropriate manner.

In and extending transversely of each of the arms of the frame A is aseries of horizontally distical as shown by full anddotted lines,respecgeneral shape of a (lireelr cross,- and that said frame comprisesfour arms of equal length spaced ninety degrees apart and each composedof a' pair of side rails designated as l0, It. This frame A may beformed from a single length of strap metal of suitable thickness andwidth bent into the shape described, or it may be formed from any othersuitable material in any other suitable posed, P rallel, spaced apartvanes 15 which may be formed from sheet metal or other suitable materialand which, in accordance with the invention. are suitably pivoted attheir ends to the rails to, i II for rotatable adjustment betweenvertical positions and positions inclined to the vertively, in Fig. 1,either for the purpose in. the first instance of permitting supplied airto flow directly downwardly through the spaces between them to thedevice B orfor the purpose in the second instance of deflecting thesupplied air either outwardly or inwardly as may be desired.

To provide for pivotally mounting said vanes upon the rails ll, it saidvanes may be provided at their ends with ears it bent at right anglesthereto and rivets or other suitable fasteners ll i may extend throughalined holes in said ears and the rails III, Illywhile in order toprovide for retaining said vanes in any positions to which they may berotatablyadjusted said fasteners ITmay be employed to-c'lamp saidearsagainst the rails III, III with suflicient tightness so that theresulting friction accomplishes the desired purpose.

Each vane I501 each series of such vanes may, of course, be manuallyrotated to any desired position independently of each other such vane.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated may be thermally orotherwise, controlled as, for

of vanes I5 or in a'horizontal plane below orabove the plane of saidseries of vanes I5. In

' this connection it will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention the frame A has secured thereto at the junction of eachtwo adjacent right angularly disposed rails III, II) of adjacent armsthereof or, in other words, at each of the four corners of the central,rectangular space in said frame, a vertically disposed angle-iron memberI8; that these angle-iron example, by the temperature of either thesupplied air or of the room or enclosure air. Preferably, too, the vanesI8 are divided into two sets disposed respectively to opposite sides ofthe center of the damper and the two sets of vanes'are connectedtogetherfor reverse operation with respect to each other to insure the same typeof air flow regulation at each side of the center of the damper.

The vanes of each of the two sets may be connected together in anysuitable manner as, for example, by means of tongues 26 bent from thevanes at right angles thereto and pivotally connected, as indicated at2|,'to a rod 28, the pivots 21 being offset from the pivots 2I so thatby shifting the rod 28 longitudinally the vanes may simultaneously berotated between vertical and horizontal positions. The tongues 28 may bebent members depend'from said frame A; that opposite pairs of saidangle-iron members are connected together adjacent totheir lower ends byrails 28, and that the vanes I8 extend between said. rails 28 and arepivoted thereto, 'as indicated at 2 I, in the same manner as the vanesI5 are pivoted to the rails III, III, for rotatable adjustment betweenvertical positions and positions inclinedto the vertical for the samepurpose as adjustment of the vanes I5. Accordingly, the series of vanesI8 is effective to regulate flow of supplied air through the central,rectangular the outlet device B in the same manner as each of the fourseries of vanes I5 is effective to regulate flow of supplied air'to therelated underlying portion of said outlet device. In fact, all of thevanes I5 and I8 are rotatablyadjustable not only be-- tween verticalpositions and positions inclined to the vertical, but to horizontal orsubstantially horizontal positionsto completely or substantiallycompletely, out ofi flow of s pplied air to any part of the outletdevice B incase that should be desired in any particular instance.Moreover, the angle-iron members I8 are provided with vertically spacedholes 22 for the selective reception of the screws, bolts or otherfasteners 23 by means of whichsaidangle-iron members are secured to therails I 0, whereby said angle-iron members and, consequently, the seriesof vanes I8 may be vertically adjusted relative to the frame A and,

from top portions of the vanes I8 to provide recesses 29 opening throughthe tops'of the vanes, as shown in Fig. 6, to accommodate the rod 28.

The vanes I8 preferably are of such widths, and their pivots 2ipreferably are spaced such distances apart, that when said vanes arerotated -to horizont'alpositions, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.3, they are disposed in a common plane, substantially in edge to edgeabutting relationship, so as to completely or substantially comspace inthe frame A to the central portion of consequently, with respect to theseries of vanes space defined by the angle iron members IS. The

vanes 24 of these four additional series may be pivotally connected, asindicated at 25, to the angle-iron members I9 in the same manner as thevanes I5 and I8 are pivotally connected to the pletely close the centralrectangular area of the damper against flow of supplied air directlydownwardly therethrough to the outlet device B;

Any suitable means may be provided to connect together the two sets ofvanes I8 for simultaneous reverse rotation of the vanes of these twosets relative to each other. In this connection and as illustrated byway of example in the drawings, a pair oflinks 30, 30 may be pivotallyconnected at their upper ends to a cross head 3| and may extenddownwardly. and inwardly from said crosshead and at their lower ends maybe pivotally connected, one to each set of the vanes I8, through theinstrumentality of the pivot element 21 which connects the innermostvane of the related set to the related rod 28. Thus, by verticalmovement of the. crosshead the links 38, 38 will be caused to act inconjunction with the rods 28 and in an obvious manner tosimultaneouslyrotate the two sets of vanes in opposite directions either toward 7vertically disposed open positions or horizontally.

disposed closedpositions, depending upon whether the-crosshead is movedupwardly or downwardly.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1' ofthe drawings th cr'osshead 3i has connected thereto'by means of a rod 82a suitable thermostat device, designated generally as C, which issuitably mounted lnythe path of flow of the air supplied to the outletdevice l3 whereby said crosshead is raised and lowered in detaileddescription of asoaeei the same is deemed unnecessary.

In Fig. 7 ofthe drawings is illustrated an alter-- native means ofraising and lowering the crosshead 3|. According to Fig. 7 a suitablebearing 38 is suitably mounted below the vanes it in vertical alinementwith the central portion of the crosshead iii, a vertical shaft 13 3 isrotatably mounted in said bearing and is held thereby against verticalmovement and at its upper end is threaded on the central portion oi thecrosshead 88, and on said shaft is fixed. a'sheav ilfi around whichextends a rope, cord, cable or the like 36 which may lead to any desiredpoint for manual manipulation to rotate said sheave and shaft, therebyto cause said shaft, because of its 6 spaced apart rotatably adjustablevanes above threaded connection with the crosshead 39, to

raise or lower'said crosshead and thus 'rotatably adjust the vanes 85. Y

Preferably, but not necessarily, all of the vanes It, It and 2dareturned upon themselves at their tops as indicated at El to providerounded edges for the purposeof avoiding or reducing noise in-. cidentto the supplied air impinging against and flowing over said edges.Moreover, the corners of the vanes 28 preferably are removed, asindicated at 86, so that the diilerent sets of said vanes are adjustablewithout interference with each other at their ends. 1

The vanes l8 are intended primarily to regulate the volume of airflowing to the central portion of the outlet device B. On the otherhand, while the sets of vanes l5 and 24 also are eflectlve to regulatethe volume of air flowing through thedamper, these sets are intendedprimarily for adjustment to secure either equalized,

or substantially equalized, air flow to the different portions of theoutlet device 13, or a greater or lesser volume of air supply to anygiven portion of said outlet device as may bev desired in any particularinstance. A

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art,

and it will of course be understood that changes in the form,.proportionand minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: L 1. A damper comprising a central set of pararms.

allel spaced apart rotatably adjustable vanes disposed in a commonplane, a plurality of other sets of parallel spaced apart rotatablyadjustable vanes each disposed outwardly of said coiltral set of vanesand in a plane parallel to and.

spaced from the plane of said central set of vanes, and other sets ofvanes disposed in planes at right angles to the planes of said centralset and said other sets and extending between the margins oi saidcentral setand the inner ends of said other sets. I

2. A damper comprising a central set of horizontal parallel spaced apartrotatably ,adlustable vanes, a plurality of other sets of horizontalparallel spaced apart. rotatably adjustable vanes disposed outwardly ofand abovesaid central set of vanes. and vertical sets of horizontalparallel spaced apart rotatably adjustable vanes at the sides and endsof said central set of vanes and between said central set of vanes andthe' sets of vanes thereabove.

3. A damper comprisingv a central set of horizontal parallel spacedapart rotatably adjustable vanes, other sets of horizontal parallel andone at each side and one at each end of said central set of vanes, andvertical sets of horizontal parallel spaced apart rotatably ad- Justablevanes one at each side and end of said central set oi' vanes and betweensaid central set of vanes and the related set "of vanes thereabove.

.bers and pivotally mounted at their ends upon their related verticalmembers for rotatable ad- Justment, rails connecting opposite pairs ofsaid vertical members adjacent .to their lower ends. and a set ofhorizontal parallel vanes spaced apart along and pivotally mounted attheir ends upon said last mentioned rails for rotatable ad- Justment.

5. A damper comprising a central set of parallel spaced apart rotatablyadjustable vanes disposed in substantially a common plane, a pluralityof other sets of. parallel spaced apart rotatably adjustablevanes'disposed outwardly of and adJacent to said central set of vanessubstantially in planes parallel to the plane of said cen; tral set,mounting means for said other sets of varies, and means mounting. saidcentral set of vanes for unitary adjustment in directions at rightangles to' the plane thereof and relative to said other sets of vanes.

6. A damper to be-mounted in an air or gas duct to regulate and directflow of air or gas 'therethrough, said damper comprising a, frameincluding more than two arms disposed substantially radially withrespect to the center of said frame, ,each arm comprisinga pair ofparallel spaced apart side rails, and a separate set of air or gasdeflecting and volume regulating vanes mounted between the side rails ofeach of said '7; A damper to be mounted man air or gas duct to regulateand direct flow of air or gas therethrough, said damper comprising aframe including more than two arms disposed in a. com-' mon plane andextending substantially radially with respect to the center of saidframe, each arm comprising a pairyoi' parallel spaced apart side rails,and a separate set of airor gas. defleeting and volume regulatingparallel vanes mounted between the side rails of each of said 8.'Adamper'to be mounted in a'n air or gas v duct to regulate and directflow of air or gas therethrough, said damper comprising a frameincluding more than two arms disposed radial- 1y with respect to thecenter of. said-frame, each arm comprising a pair of parallel spacedapart side rails, and a. separate set of air or gas deflecting andvolume regulating vanes mounted between the side rails of each of saidarms in the plane thereof.

-9. A damper to be mounted in an air or gas duct to regulate and directflow of air or gas therethrough, said damper comprising a frameincluding more than two arms disposed radially with respect to thecenter of said frame, each in each arm between the side rails thereof,the vanes of each set extending transversely .of their related arm'andbeing mounted at their ends a rm lncluding'a pair of parallel spacedapart side rails, and a separate set of vanes mounted upon the siderails thereof, said arms and said vanes all being disposed in a commonplane.

10.'A damper to be mounted in an air or gas duct to regulate and directflow'of air or gas therethrough, said damper comprising" a frameincluding a central portion and more than two, arms disposed radiallywith respect to the .center of said central portion, a separate set ofair or gas deflecting and volume regulating parallel vanes mountedineach of said arms, and a central set of parallel vanes mounted in acommon plane in the-central portion of said frame forwardly with respectto said first mentioned sets.

. .v I 8 I 14. A damper to be mounted in an air or gas duct to regulateand direct flow of air or gas therethrough, said damper comprising aframe including four arms disposed in a common plane andextending'radially with respect to the center of said frame, each armincluding a pair of spaced apart side rails, a separate set of air orgas deflecting and'volume regulating parallel vanes mounted in each ofsaid arms, a member extending at right angles to said frame from each ofthe four corners thereof where the side rails of adjacent arms meet, aset of air or gas deflecting and volume regulating parallel vanesmounted between eachediacent two of said members, rails connectingopposite pairs of said members, said member-connecting rafls beingdisposed parallel to and being" spaced from the 11. A'damper to bemounted in an air or gas duct to regulate and direct flow of air or gastherethrough, said damper comprising a frame including more than twoarms disposed in a common plane and extending radially with respect tothe center of said frame, each arm including a pair of spaced apartparallel side rails, a separate set of air or gas deflecting and volumeregulating parallel vanes in and extending transversely of each arm andmounted between the side rails thereof, said sets of vanes beingdisposed in the plane of said arms and the vanes of each .set beingmounted at'their ends upon the side rails of their related arm. v

12. A damper to be mounted in an air or gas duct to regulate and directflow of air or gas therethrough, said damper comprising a frameincluding more than two arms disposed in a eluding a pair-of spacedapart side rails, a separate set of air or gas'defiecting and volumeregulating parallel vanes mounted in each ofsaid arms in the planethereof, a central set of air or gas deflecting and volume regulatingvanes mounted in said frame inwardly with respect to said firstmentioned sets and disposed in a plane parallel to and spaced from theplane of the vanes of said first mentioned sets, andother sets commonplane and extending radially with respect to the center of said frame,each arm inr of air or gas deflecting and volume regulating vanesdisposed in planes at right angles to said first mentioned sets and saidcentral set and extending between the margins of said central set andthe inner ends of said first mentioned sets.

13. A damper as set forth in claim 12 including means mounting thecentral set of vanes for adjustment toward and away from the plane ofthe first mentioned sets of vanes. 1

ing means mounting the central set of vanes for unitary adjustments indirections perpendicular to the plane thereofxrelative' to the firstmentioned sets of vanes. p

17. A damper to be mounted in an air or gas duct to regulate and directflow of air or gas therethroug-h, said damper comprising a frameincluding a plurality of arms each including a pair of parallel spacedapart side rails, said arms being disposed in a. common plane, aseparateset of parallel vanes in each arm disposed in the plane thereof andextending transversely between and mounted at their ends upon the side--rails thereof, and a central set of parallel spaced apart vanes disposedin a commonplane parallel to the plane of said arms and said firstmentioned sets of vanes and mounted in the central portion of said frameforwardly with respect to the vanes of said first mentioned sets.

18. A damper asset forth in claim .17 including means mounting thecentral set of vanes for unitary adjustments in directions perpendicularto the plane thereof relative to the sets of vanes that are mounted inthe arms.

FRANZ J. xcn'm.

